View Full Version : Smoker Craft lodge boat/motor question?
Cast Away
10-29-2002, 09:22 AM
I need input on motor size for 15' Smoker Craft lodge ss. I currently run 15' Smoker Craft Alaskan w/15 hp and run fast enough for where I need to go. The lodge weighs 470 lbs. and my current alaskan only weighs 220 lbs. So my question is will a 25hp (four stroke) be enough to get up on a plain w/three people in the boat. Or do I need a 40hp plus a kicker. Any input helpful, especially lodge owners with first hand experience. Thanks in advance. :cheers:
My 30hp Honda pushes my boat with a heavy load to 35 mph. It will also troll at 1.3 mph.
Different hull but 30hp is a good choice.
Silverado
10-29-2002, 09:47 AM
What do you mean heavy load :shocked:
Thanks again for the boat ride Lee, and thanks for your patience with a rookie.
proguide
10-29-2002, 11:30 AM
I have a 16ft smokercraft lodge series ss with a 40 horse 4 stroke. It has plenty of power and trolls perfectly. It sounds like if you are happy with the set up you already have that the 25 4 stroke should work just fine. It depends where you go fishing. I found that when you are out by the astoria bridge and the wind picks up and you have 3 good sized guys in your boat the extra horse power comes in real handy.
onstep
10-29-2002, 11:37 AM
The 25 fourstroke will work great on the 15 with 3 big guys. If it were a 16 I would recommend the 40. You will be happy either boat and motor set up..
Silverado,
Heavy load = one short fat boat opperator, one taller fat navigator, one dead moose, three rifles, tent, camping gear. and 2" of rain water. You were only half of that load! :grin:
I had a great time and hope to fish with you next season.
[ 10-29-2002, 11:39 AM: Message edited by: Keta ]
winkie
10-29-2002, 01:11 PM
I also fish a 16' Lodge and run a payload of 500# each trip. A 25hp. 4 stroke does a great job on mine. Just keep some sand bags up front and your 15' should fly.
Fish Hawk Adventures
10-29-2002, 03:05 PM
Ok, I had a 16' Lodge SS with a 25 Yamaha 4 stroke, 3 large guys 220 each and it was slow out of the hole but planed at 26is. Subtract 40 pounds from each of the 2 guys plus my 240 pound payload and it got out of th hole great and did 29 to 30. Add a fourth of a 500 pounder and plan on 16 and plowing. As far as trolling I could turn the motor down to a .3 to .4 mph and even troll too slow for herring downstream trolling in the channel. I would recommend the 25 with out a kicker. This was my exact delema that I had. The boat worked perfectly just not a speed rocket.
Nanook
10-29-2002, 03:06 PM
Too bad you could not put any Springers in it either Joe. LOL. :wink:
Fishslayer
10-29-2002, 03:37 PM
I fish with a friend who has the same set-up w/ yami 25. With 3 guys in the boat he's no happy with the power it has. Were also on the larger side and pack the house w/ couch on to the boat. It does about 21 mph. I would say go with 40 hp and the kicker. Even with the 25 we still use a sea-anchor to slow the troll down. Hope this helps.
Bankbound
10-29-2002, 04:39 PM
My dad used to have a smokercraft pro alaskan w/ a 25 horse 2-stroke tohatsu and we always did just fine even with 4 in the boat. Sure it won't break the sound barrier, but it was always good enough.
MH
Perfect Drift
10-29-2002, 06:05 PM
The law of boats and motors : Always get the biggest motor allowed, you will only wish you had if you don't. I had a 15 ft. Kingfisher, same hull with a Merc 50 hp. prop. 46 mph with the GPS. Just don't get any leaks in the hull, you'll be in for a huge nightmare. Long story but the jist is, smoker crafts customer service sucks, they trashed that boat. Buy a real boat, welded only !!
1pump
10-30-2002, 12:22 AM
Kaus is right on- welded is the way to go. Don't fall for the line "They use rivets on airplanes!" Airplanes don't need to be leak proof, they need to flex, and the aluminum is way too thin to weld.
I beat the living crap out of my Klamath up in AK and down here in my home state. I finally got a small crack in the hull after I beached it on a rock at about 15mph (for the 20th time) Can't hardly blame the boat. Hard as I try to destroy it, it keeps asking for more. :cool:
Anyway, it's a 15' hull, weighs about 300 lbs.,
and haulza$$ with a 25hp Merc. Does about 35mph. (with a light load) The hull's rated for 45hp, which freaks me out. I'd need goggles and a seat belt for that. :wink: I'd bet you can run a 40hp 4-stroke on your Lodge, no kicker, and maybe a trolling plate. Or a smaller prop, but that's no fun. I use a plate on my 2-stroke, and it works great. :smile:
I don't mean to dog your Smoker. I'm actually impressed by their welded boats. I just hate rivets.